Ripken series weekend schedule is set

RANDY McROBERTS, Record staff

With pool play concluded Wednesday, today's (Friday's) Cal Ripken Major/70 World Series semifinals are set. The four games, two featuring United States teams and two more with international flavor, begin at 12:30 p.m. All games will be played at Cal Sr.'s Yard.

Starting things off with international play, second seed Mexico (4-1) will tangle with third seed Republic of Korea (3-2) in the day's first game. The first U.S. semifinal will follow at 3 p.m., pitting American Division two seed New Milford, Conn., (3-1) at National Division top seed Piedmont, Del., (4-0).

International action will return to the field to begin the two night contests. At 5:30 p.m., top seed Japan (4-1) will battle fourth seed Dominican Republic (3-2), while the U.S. returns to the field to close things out at 8 p.m., with National Division two seed West Raleigh, NC., (3-1) squaring off with American Division top seed Elk Grove, Calif., (3-1).

Winners from today's games will advance to Saturday's U.S. and international championship games. The U.S. title game is set for 5 p.m. Saturday, while the International title game will follow at 7:30 p.m.